Floor-cleaning apparatus



F. VOREL FLOOR CLEANING APPARATUS Sept 11, 1923. 1,467,629

Filed Aug. 25. 1920 2 sheets-swat 1 I O i fie i inn lmm 7 '40 mm ,4 J5 36 o IN I/E/V TOR Patented Sept.- 11, 1923.

FRANK VOBEL, F HANOVER, MONTANA.

FLOOR-CLEANING APPARATUS..

Application filed August 23, 1920. Serial No. 405,409,.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK VoRnL, citizen of the United States, and resident of Hanover, in the State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to floor cleaning ap Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the,

same partly in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the same, illustrating the floor moistening device.

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially on the'line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates, generally, a rectangular frame structure having a transverse partition 11 extending from side to side dividing the frame into unequal compartments, one of which is substantially square. A pair of wheels 12 are mounted rotatably on axles 13 secured below the forward, narrow portion of the frame, and a similar wheel 14 is secured to a shaft 15 rotatably mounted in bearings in one side of the frame at about the center of the larger compartment.

Another wheel 16 is fixed to a short shaft 17 rotatable in a bearing provided in the other side frame at a point to one side of the center and a pinion 18 is secured to the inner end of the shaft in meshed engagement with a spur gear 19 fixed on a spindle 20 also mounted to rotate in the same frame side. A bevelled pinion 22 and the spur gear 19 are attached together and another bevel pinion 23 is fixed to the inner end of the shaft 15 adjacent the inside of the frame.

A ring or annular member 24 having bevel gear teeth 25 on its lower face and an annular track 26 provided on the upper face,

rests in toothed engagement upon the bevel pinions 22 and 23 and is guided by and prevented from tilting by a pair of rolls 27 engaging rotatably with the track 26.

These rolls 27 are rotatably mounted diametrically opposite each other, one in the rear of the frame 10 and the other in partition 11 at the center.

A plate 28 of comparatively thin section extends across the annular member from side to side forming an integral web therewith, to the underside of which is attached the scrubbing brush 29 by one or more screws 30.

A rectangular tank 33 adapted to contain a quantity of water or washing fluid, as shown in Figure 2, has a fixed cover 34 at the forward end of the tank, the rear portion being closed by a cover 35 connected to the fixed cover 34 by hinges, a catch 36 securing the cover to the tank.

Looped straps 37 are attached to each side of the tank 33 and are receptive of the flat stakes 38 attached to the frame sides to extend about its upper edges.

Brackets 39 bent inwardly and forming a yoke are attached to each side ofvthe frame 10, their opposed upward extending ends being flattened and pivotally secured to a central handle 40 adapted to move the device about the floor.

An outlet 41, provided with a shut off valve 42, is attached to the lower central portion of the tank front and a tubular distributing element 43, having closed ends and an opening 44, provided to receive the fluid discharged through the outlet 41, said dis iiibibutor being fixed to the front of the frame Smaller perforations 45 are arranged thruout the length of the tube on its underside for the purpose of distributing a small but uniform quantity of water in advance of the scrubbing brushes; supporting brackets 46 hold the distributor in place.

In operation, the device is moved about the floor, and water trickles down through the outlet and perforated tube onto the floor in advance of the brushes.

The rotation of the wheels cause the annular geared ring to rotate and the brushes being attached thereto are in turn compelled to rotate in a manner adapted for floor brushing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A floor scrubbing apparatus comprisin a frame, pairs of truck wheels on each sic e of said frame, a toothed, brush carrying annulus rotatably mounted in said frame, pinions extending in from opposite sides of said frame engaging the teeth of said annulus, one of said plnions being driven direct by one of said wheels, means intervening between the other pinion and adjacent wheel whereby it is driven in an opposite direction, and rollers carried by said frame adapted to maintain operative engagement between said annulus and said pinions.

2. A floor scrubbing apparatus comprising a rectangular frame having a square compartment, a pair of truck wheels at the front of said frame, a pair of aligned shafts housed in the sides of said frame, their axial plane being at the center of the square compartment, bevel pinions extending inwardly from said shafts, a drive wheel on the outer end of one of said shafts, a spur gear on the other shaft, a spindle mounted in the opposite side of said frame, a drive wheel fixed on the outer end of said spindle, a spur gear on the inner end thereof, said spur gears being in mesh, a brush carrying annulus in said square compartment, said annulus hav ing teeth engaging said bevel pinions, and means extending in from the front and rear walls of said compartment adapted to maintain operative engagement between said annglus and said pinions.

Signed at Hanover, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana this 14th day of May, A. D. 1920.

FRANK VOREL. 

